In the news

J&J Snack Foods Handheld Corp. of Holly Ridge, NC recalled two lots of Fit & Active Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwiches due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. The products have an expiry date of Feb 09, 2018 and Feb 14, 2018. While the product is not ready-to-eat and has baking instructions, without appropriate baking it can cause illnesses. The potential for contamination was discovered after McCain Foods, IL, the supplier of some frozen vegetables used in the product, announced it was recalling the vegetables. Products were distributed between 08/22/2017 – 09/20/2017 to Aldi retail stores in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia. The product was also available for purchase to ALDI customers in the Atlanta area through the company’s partnership with Instacart, a grocery delivery service. @ https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm624568.htm

According to the lawsuits brought by United’s former senior manager of food safety, Marcia Lee, General Manager of the Newark catering facility Eliot Mosby, and Newark Food Safety Manager Gustavo Moya United Airlines failed to address critical food safety issues at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, endangered passengers and retaliated against employees for speaking up. The airline did not address persistent maintenance issues at its catering facility at Newark airport, which allowed the spread of Listeria monocytogenes. The lawsuits are seeking damages of $7.5 million. United denied these allegations and said the lawsuits were without merit. Additionally, United told CNBC it is unaware of any foodborne illnesses confirmed to be linked to any food served on its flights and is currently cleaning and repairing several areas of the Newark facility as part of routine maintenance. In November 2017, USDA recalled some chicken and pork products produced at United’s Denver catering operation after the facility notified regulators that one of its products had tested positive for L. mono. In August 2018, a news organization reported that United had found Listeria at its Newark location. At the time, United said it found Listeria in its cooler but noted Listeria had not been found in food served to its customers or on food-contact surfaces. @ https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/29/united-airlines-mishandled-listeria-contamination-lawsuits-claim.html

October 26, 2018 – Sofina Foods Inc. is recalling Janes brand Pub Style Chicken Burgers from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. This recall was triggered by findings by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) during its investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak. According to the recall notice, Sofina Foods Inc. distributed the Pub Style Chicken Burgers nationwide to a number of retailers. @ http://inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2018-10-26/eng/1540600587248/1540600589249

On Nov. 23, 2018, FSIS will begin posting Salmonella performance standard information for raw chicken parts and comminuted poultry products for individual establishments. FSIS will continue to post data for young chicken and turkey carcasses. FSIS will issue a Federal Register notice announcing how the agency is changing its categorization procedure that will be based on one 52-week window and will exclude FSIS follow-up sampling results. On Oct. 31, 2018, the sampling results for FSIS regulated products will be updated on the agency’s website. The data will be published quarterly. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/meetings/newsletters/constituent-updates/archive/2018/ConstUpdate102618